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Demand For Wide Plank Hardwood Flooring to Increase in 2012

Consumer demand for wide plank hardwood flooring will increase in 2012, with growing number of homeowners and interior design professionals favouring the look of wide, natural wood flooring over narrow strips of traditional parquet, believe designers at Coswick Hardwood Inc.

Coswick at Domotex 2012

Consumer demand for wide plank hardwood flooring will increase in 2012, with growing number of homeowners and interior design professionals favouring the look of wide, natural wood flooring over narrow strips of traditional parquet, believe designers at Coswick Hardwood Inc.

The trend for wide-plank wood flooring was overwhelmingly obvious at Domotex 2012, world's leading tradeshow for floor coverings, which took place in Hannover, Germany, earlier this month. Among the new and innovative flooring products showcased by nearly 200 manufacturers, various styles of wide plank, natural looking wood floors were most common. Wider flooring planks start from 5" and go up to 7-8" or even wider, depending on species, finish and construction.

Both concern for the environment and the uncertain state of the economy influenced the flooring trends for 2012. As a result, interest in wider planks goes hand in hand with demand for natural, eco-friendly floors; both are must-have traits for wood floors in 2012.

"The growing trend in flooring is for a wide plank, brushed in order to emphasize the texture of natural wood, and oiled in order to preserve its warmth. This means that the more the floor looks and feels like authentic wood, the better," stated Tatyana Zhigar, principal designer at Coswick Hardwood Inc, regular exhibitor at Domotex. "For many manufacturers, achieving effect of authenticity is done through lowering wood flooring grades, offering products that include a very high number of natural imperfections, swirls and knots - a whole spectrum of natural wood characteristics that make real hardwood flooring so unique."

Coswick's new collection of wide plank hardwood flooring, the Arts & Crafts Collection, was presented at Domotex. The new collection features 7 designer styles oak flooring with innovative eco-friendly oil finishes; it is available as locking 5G engineered flooring.

Aside from producing hardwood floors that preserve the authentic look and feel of natural wood, manufacturers increasingly opt in for using lumber that originates from sustainable forests, formaldehyde-free glues, as well as finishes that contain no toxic VOC emissions. This tendency is expected to strengthen through 2012.